Page 46 of Dead Air
“Knowin’ me and how I felt about you, I probably would have gone with it or helped you run from the law,” Shelby said, chuckling sadly.
“I wasn’t running from the law. I…relocated in a dramatic fashion to escape a terrible relationship.” Why was it so hard to say he was a victim and that Andy was abusive? Niall hadn’t broken any laws but he was still too ashamed to admit he had run and had lied about why he climbed to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain six years ago and never left.
“I wish I could have helped you make peace with that and start over.” Shelby said and started to reach for Niall’s cheek but stopped himself. He turned back to the view and braced his hands on the rail. “This doesn’t feel right!” he whispered tightly. “How the hell could it feel right? Merlin gave me some kind of ‘Celtic Mythology for Idiots’ seminar on the way up but I didn’t understand half of what he was sayin’! I would have paid more attention if I knew this shit was real!”
“I need to see when Mr. Oglethorpe is giving the next one because I need that seminar,” Niall said, swinging his head toward his door.
Shelby nodded.“That’s who you should be talking to. Merlin and the professor can tell you everything you need to know.”
“I’ll do that. I mean it, Shelby.” Niall grabbed his arm and squeezed it. “Don’t waste any time wishing you’d done something different or trying to find a way to save me. I’m safe with Cenn as strange as that sounds. He takes good care of me and I bring out parts of him that aren’t evil. He’s considerate and protective when it’s just the two of us and I think my purpose is to make him lovesomethingagain, so he can find his way back,” he explained, causing Shelby to laugh and swear.
“You would make it your mission to save a demon. Why didn’t I seethatcoming?” He gestured for Niall to go on. “You need to talk to those two.”
“I’ll see you later.” Niall said a quick prayer before going back inside. He didn’t want to feelmoreconflicted.
Inside the cabin, someone had started the pellet stove and Mr. Oglethorpe was warming his hands as the professor leaned against the freezer, reading the back of Niall’s novel.
“So… Professor MacIlwraith…” Niall pushed out a steadying breath and headed for the shelf over the sink to get his last two mugs. “How bad is this Cenn Cruach thing?” he asked as he gave them a quick rinse.
“You can call me Nox and just call him Merlin,” Nox said, hopping up and sitting on the freezer. “It’sreallybad, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting.”
“Oh?” Niall turned and studied one of the mugs as he dried it. “How’s that?”
“Well…” Nox chewed on his lip thoughtfully. “He’s far more reasonable than I thought he’d be and your soul’s still intact. That means he must have something resembling a conscience.”
“Or something else planned that we haven’t yet ferreted out,” Merlin cautioned. “He is the father of the dirty, underhanded deal and he invented the long con. Our best hope is that Cenn Cruach decides that his pride and his honor are at stake.”
Nox groaned heavily. “Putting our faith in a demon’s pride and honor is risky business,” he said but Merlin snorted.
“They deserve each other and I have a feeling Hugh Dùbhghlas is about to learn a valuable lesson about biting off more than he can chew with Cenn Cruach. I would bet the great and powerful Lord Smoak is planning his revenge as we speak.”
“This could get ugly,” Nox whispered excitedly as he rubbed his hands together. “Huge Douchebag has pulled some really nasty tricks lately.”
“You must think I’m a terrible person,” Niall said, handing Merlin and Nox the mugs and gesturing at the jug of drinking water on the counter. “I have some tea.”
“Nonsense. We know you’re not a terrible person and we brought refreshments.” Merlin held up a flask and filled his mug, then passed it to Nox.
Nox ducked and offered Niall an encouraging smile. “I think you’re brave and that you’re handling this like a boss. I understand the allure and that darkness isn’t always evil. Even my people, the Tuath Dé, were called demons and fallen angels, depending on who was telling the legend.”
“Right…” Niall nodded slowly. “I don’t know about any allure... I preferred Cenn when he was a really hot biologist before I knew about the whole…father of demons thing. But I wasn’t that afraid of him when I found out because I’ve met human men who seemed like worse monsters. Cenn might be this Lord Smoke guy, but he’s never hurt me and I…thinkI can trust him.”
That got a good laugh out of Merlin. “You are wiser than your years, lad, but trust Cenn Cruach at your own peril. There aremen—and women—who offend demons, because they’re capable of such tremendous acts of evil. Men like Huge Douchebag. And it’s usually a demon, one of Lord Smoak’s ilk, who delivers their comeuppance. The light cannot always contain the darkness and sometimes, the only remedy for something as dark and evil as Hugh Dùbhghlas is a greater evil, like Smoak.”
Nox nodded and hummed into his mug. “The thing about gods and goddesses and monsters and fae is that they belong to both the darkness and the light. You can’t have one without the other. There’s always madness in magick, or else it would just be science.”
“Cenn Cruach is where madness and magick merge and that is his true nature.” Merlin held up a hand and turned to the door. “He’s approaching.”
Niall saw the tense look that passed between Nox and Merlin, wishing they understood what Cenn was really like. “I think I can change him. Hehaschanged since we met.”
“You sweet summer child,” Merlin said with a tender smile at Niall.
“He’s a hell of a lot smarter than you think,” Cenn said as he stepped out of the corner behind the door, startling Nox and Merlin and making Niall roll his eyes.
“You could have used the door. I’ve been trying to convince them that you’re not as bad as the legends make you out to be.”
Cenn groaned as he clutched his chest. “My sweet summer child.”
“Shut up,” Niall muttered. “Where did you go?”
